Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist strain and remanded the claims for increased ratings for incomplete paralysis of the left and right sciatic nerves.

The Board granted a 50 percent initial rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder and denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine arthritis, while denying earlier effective dates for the service connection of lower left extremity radiculopathies.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lower back disorder, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, erectile dysfunction, and obstructive sleep apnea to cure pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the case to obtain medical records related to physical therapy for the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as these records were not previously associated with the Veteran's VA electronic file.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 27, 2015, for a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease and entitlement to a total rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU), but denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for cervical disc disease with radiculopathy, secondary to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The Board also granted ratings of 50%, 80%, and 40% for various neurological conditions affecting the lower extremities, as well as a rating of 60% for hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver.

The Board granted service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraines, right foot disability, lumbosacral strain, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and denied an increased rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for dorsalgia and service connection for right lower extremity nerve disability secondary to the service-connected dorsalgia.

The Board denied increased ratings for multiple service-connected conditions, including tinnitus, GERD with hiatal hernia, major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, spinal stenosis with lumbosacral strain status post surgery, scars of the back, and radiculopathy in both lower extremities. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction was also denied a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right ear hearing loss is granted, while the claim for left ear hearing loss is denied. Several other claims are remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, radiculopathy of the right and left arms as secondary to cervical spine strain, chronic sinusitis, left ankle strain, cervical spine strain, and lumbar strain. An initial rating was assigned for each condition.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues related to initial disability ratings.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, as well as service connection for radiculopathy in both lower extremities and direct service connection for sinusitis.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and chronic headaches. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied.

The Board remands the issues for new VA examinations to adequately address the Veteran's lumbar and left lower extremity radiculopathy conditions, as well as related claims for TDIU and special monthly compensation.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, femoral nerve from January 22, 2018 through August 28, 2022 and granted ratings of 20 percent for lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, sciatic nerve and femoral nerve from August 29, 2022 to August 27, 2024.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy to schedule a VA examination.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder, with PTSD; a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, to include intervertebral disc syndrome, with degenerative arthritis (thoracolumbar spine disability); and initial ratings of 40 percent each for right sciatic radiculopathy and left sciatic radiculopathy. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, a 20 percent rating or higher for the same condition, and any other initial ratings for the right knee disability under other Diagnostic Codes pertaining to the knee and leg. A 10 percent rating was granted for allergic rhinitis (claimed as chronic sinusitis).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, higher ratings, and service connection due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to her military service.